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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ...on one side only, and so caused the rocket to rotate. The rotation kept the rocket steady during flight and consequently no stick was required. The large' war rocket weighed 24 lb. and was about 2 feet long. It was used with great effect during the Napoleonic wars, against Copenhagen, at Walcheren and at the battle of Leipzig, but in consequence of the great improvements in artillery it is never used now. The future may see it revived, like the grenade. A powerful rocket with a charge of high explosive in the head and an impact fuse might prove very effective against an enmy shielded from direct fire, and would be comparatively easy to transport in difficult mountain country. Its worst defect is want of accuracy. Major Unge has attempted to revive it under the name of " aerial torpedo " for the attack of airships, but for this purpose it does not seem to be suitable. The name of " aerial torpedo " has also been given, amongst many others, to the shell thrown by some varieties of trench mortars. Some trials have been made by the Germans with war rockets in the present war, but they are unable to compete with guns, mortars and trench mortars in localities where these can be brought into action. The life-saving rocket is used by coastguards and others for throwing lifelines on to wrecked ships. It is a powerful rocket so constructed as to burn for a long time and to put only a moderate strain upon the line. The Boxer life-saving rocket consists practically of two rockets arranged in tandem in the same case, so that when the first has finished burning the second starts. The rocket used for pyrotechnic displays has a cardboard case and a chamber in the forward end, separated by a plug of clay or other material...show more